Minneapolis hired a new chief regulator Friday: a Floridian with broad city and county experience.

Gregory Stubbs, 55, was nominated by Mayor R.T. Rybak on Oct. 11 and the council confirmed that choice by a 12-1 vote. He will head the Department of Regulatory Services, filling a post left vacant in July by the abrupt resignation of Rocco Forte. The job has a pay range of $119,404 to $131,972 annually.

He'll oversee a department with a 2010 budget of $36.1 million and 289 positions. It has duties ranging from housing stray animals to issuing building permits and inspecting construction. It licenses cabs, bars, restaurants and many other businesses. Its inspectors make sure landlords keep their properties up to snuff and homeowners mow their grass and shovel the sidewalk.

Stubbs has headed planning or development in three counties and two cities in Florida and Texas. Most recently, Stubbs directed growth and resource management for Volusia County, Fla., where he played a key role in reassessing the plan for a 94-square-mile tract of land that resulted in setting aside substantial areas for conservation.

"He helped us cut through red tape and get things done," said Glenn Storch, a Daytona Beach lawyer who represented the landowners.

The lone vote against hiring Stubbs came from Council Member Gary Schiff, who argued in committee that the city should have interviewed more outside candidates and consulted more with local users of the department.

After the council acted, Stubbs said he'll take his lead from policymakers on issues before the department but has the goal of "an outstanding customer service organization." He hopes to start work in early December.

Stubbs said he had no objection to retaining Henry Reimer on the department staff. Reimer, the department's assistant director, has been its interim boss since Forte's departure and was also a finalist for the job. "I think he's been an outstanding asset," Stubbs said.